Colonial America
1770 Dated, "Carte Des Troupes De France, Sur Le Pied Des Ordonnances 1770" ("Chart of the Troops of France, Based on the Ordinances of 1770"
1770-Dated, Pre-Revolutionary War American Colonial Period Printed Chart measuring 21.25" x 28" titled, "Carte Des Troupes De France, Sur Le Pied Des Ordonnances 1770" (translated: "Chart of the Troops of France, Based on the Ordinances of 1770"), Choice Extremely Fine.
This highly impressive, boldly printed large Printed Chart measures 21.25" x 28" and lists the French Army's regiments of Infantry, Artillery, Royal "Gardes du Corps", Cavalry, Hussars, and Dragoons, noting their place of origin, strength and officers. Other sections list the Marshalls of the French Army, foreign regiments made up of German, Irish and Italian volunteers, inspectors of troops and training regiments. The Coat of Arms of King Louis XV is present at top center. Archival linen backed on its blank reverse with just a few small tears to the edges. Overall, boldly printed on clean heavy laid period paper with full margins providing choice eye appeal. Once this handsome Chart is properly framed, it will be an outstanding display piece.
The most important figure on this Chart is the grand total of soldiers in the "Recapitulation" section at bottom center totaling: 255,058 soldiers! That is quite a war machine for pre Revolutionary War 1770. We were hoping to see the Marquis de Lafayette's name listed here, but the young French hero was only 13 at the time. In a few short years, the American Congress and George Washington's Continental Army would be relying on some of these French soldiers to help defeat the British in the Revolutionary War. Obviously very rare, we have not seen another. This rather superb example is the first we have offered.